Michelle (Calhoun) Holford

“My teachers and administrators were outstanding. They truly cared and invested in us,” shared (Calhoun) Holford.

Michelle was inspired by Sam Barlow High School faculty such as Mr. Sailing for yearbook, Ms. Gates for leadership, and Ms. Moon for international affairs. On reflecting back, she feels that they made a real difference. 

She and her class of ‘87 classmates were like family. She enjoyed a range of experiences with them, with proms and snowballs being a favorite. 

She thrived in speech and debate class and went on to compete in tournaments. The experience sparked her interest and laid the foundation for a career in public relations. 

After graduating, she earned a bachelor of science from Pacific Lutheran University and a masters degree from University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. 

Then, she embarked on an incredible career in international public relations. She’s represented major organizations such asFord Motor Company, FedEx, and the United States Army. 

She is a masterful speech crafter, talented at handling press conferences and managing international media relations. Currently, she is the Vice President of Global Public Relations at Cognite, an industrial artificial intelligence software firm where she’s had high profile media engagements such as staffing Cognite’s Chief Executive Officer at the World Economic Forum in Davos.